Why your body's weight shift during puberty is a biological milestone

Society · Published 23 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Puberty often triggers a period of significant weight gain and physical curvature in girls. While societal pressures often frame these changes as something to be managed or hidden, they are actually normal components of biological development. Understanding the difference between natural growth and disordered behaviors is key to navigating this transition.

During puberty, girls experience a variety of physical transformations, including the development of breasts and a shift toward a curvier silhouette. These changes frequently involve packing on weight, which is a standard part of the biological process of becoming a woman. However, because these changes occur during a period of heightened vulnerability, they can become a source of significant emotional distress. This is often exacerbated by media environments that equate thinness with success, popularity, and attractiveness, creating a distorted standard of what a healthy body looks like. This vulnerability can lead to the development of dangerous eating disorders. Anorexia involves starving the body of necessary calories, while bulimia involves binging followed by purging through vomiting or the use of laxatives. Another less discussed but equally dangerous behavior is excessive exercising, where an individual may exercise constantly in an attempt to lose weight.

These behaviors are not safe methods of weight management and can lead to severe physical consequences, such as feeling weak, dizzy, or appearing pale. To manage weight healthily, the source advises against fad diets—such as the Atkins, HCG, bee pollen, grapefruit, or South Beach diets—because they are generally unsustainable and often result in regaining the weight in the long term. Instead, the focus should be on sustainable lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and maintaining adequate caloric intake. Recognizing red flags, such as skipping meals, wearing baggy clothes to hide the body, or frequent bathroom trips, is the first step toward recovery and establishing normal eating patterns.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

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